Croatia missing firefighting planes ahead of key summer season

(Photo: HRZ / M. Karačić)

Croatia’s Armed Forces will begin this year’s wildfire season without the full complement of firefighting aircraft, a report from the Chief of General Staff has confirmed.

General Tihomir Kundid, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, has presented a detailed readiness report to Defence Minister Ivan Anušić regarding preparations for the 2025 fire season.

According to the report, several aircraft are still undergoing maintenance and will not be ready by 1 June, the official start of the Armed Forces’ readiness for firefighting operations.

At present, the Armed Forces have three Canadair CL-415 aircraft and three Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft operational and ready.

However, three additional Canadairs and three more Air Tractors remain at the Zrakoplovno-tehnički centar (ZTC), the company responsible for their maintenance.

By 1 June, it is expected that five Canadairs (one of which is only available until 1 July due to expiring service life) and three Air Tractors will be operational.

The remaining three Air Tractors and one Canadair are scheduled to be handed over by mid-June.

This means that at least four aircraft – three Air Tractors and one Canadair – will not be operational at the start of the fire season.

Furthermore, as one Canadair is due to be taken out of service in early July, the full fleet of six CL-415s will not be available at any one time during the season.

Interestingly, the ZTC has responded to recent statements by Minister Anušić but did not provide specific delivery dates for the aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence maintains that the report from the Chief of General Staff is the only official and relevant source for the current status of firefighting aircraft readiness.

As things stand, the Armed Forces are preparing to begin the fire season with fewer resources than planned, while awaiting the late delivery of key aircraft from ZTC.